MovieChat Forums > The Suicide Squad (2021) Discussion > Margot Robbie Cannot Carry the DCEU

Margot Robbie Cannot Carry the DCEU

posted 3 years ago by cyberbob (3488)
51 replies | jump to latest

She's been given 3 chances by 3 different directors/writers, all very talented in their own right. Say what you will about studio interference, she has not delivered IMO

She just is not on the level of Robert Downey Jr. I know that she was not originally meant to play this role, but this is the job she ended up with and she has not passed the test

She was originally just meant to play crazy Harley Quinn opposite crazy dumbass Jared Leto. But circumstances made her the face of the DCEU and she hasn't risen to the occasion

I liked this movie a lot. Lots of characters were likeable: Ratcatcher 2 easily outperformed Robbie in her first-ever attempt. Bloodsport, King Shark, Peacemaker, Polkadotman, and Rick Flag all dished out way better performances than Harley Quinn

Except most of them died. Harley Quinn had plot armor. Robbie was miscast and it's overdue that we accept this fact

She simply cannot rise above mediocrity. I never look forward to her next performance as Quinn, I just expect it. The character of Harley Quinn itself is compelling enough to survive recastings, Robbie just isn't charismatic enough to make herself must-watch despite being given the biggest spotlight

Robbie will always be among the prettiest starlets in show biz. And she has enough talent to not make us laugh at her casting. But that's just not enough at this point. Every scene that she is in is boring to me. I can't be the only one that feels this way

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

Haven't seen it yet, but I'll go ahead and say that I thought Margot Robbie was perfect casting for Harley in the first Suicide Squad film. Mainly for the fact of being a supporting character who looked hot on screen. That's all she had to do... look hot and act crazy.

Yet, SJWs complained about the only thing Robbie was good at in the first Suicide Squad film: look hot and act crazy.

They pivoted her away from that in subsequent films, toning down her hotness, putting her on more clothes, and then trying to anchor an entire film around her while making her an icon of feminist empowerment.

Robbie nor the character has the range to carry an entire film, much less an entire franchise. Add into the fact that we will never get Robbie playing the character as sexy as she did in the first Suicide Squad film, and it's basically bottoms up for Harley's run as a front-runner for the DCEU.

I wouldn't mind her being recast with someone else in the role, but then at the same time I fear they'll just keep further pivoting her as a psychotic feminist superheroine who will eventually be thrust into an equally toxic lesbian romance to play up the pandering to the just as psychotic Twitter hordes.

I say stick a fork in the DCEU for now until they vacuum out management and start from scratch.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

I don't disagree that "SJWs" wanted more out of the character than to just be a hot side character who acts crazy. But Robbie herself spoke out about the revealing outfit that she was given for the original Suicide Squad

In Birds of Prey the director allowed her to choose her own wardrobe and she did not go sexy. It isn't just Twitter and it isn't just WB execs, the talent themselves are happy to play along because it'll give them good press and most professional actors use good press as their primary food source

What the role of Harley needs is an actor that is actually interested in doing something creatively interesting and true to the character, not someone who is just using the character as a springboard to further their career. Then you'd see more bold choices. Then you might see Harley donning the OG court jester costume for an entire film. Then you might see some actual exploration into the psychology of a disturbed, co-dependent partner and not just an "empowered" Mr. Magoo (as in, a person who has no rational reason to ever come out on top but somehow always does)

I see Margot Robbie as one of the main roadblocks to a truly satisfying interpretation of the character on film

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

In Birds of Prey the director allowed her to choose her own wardrobe and she did not go sexy. It isn't just Twitter and it isn't just WB execs, the talent themselves are happy to play along because it'll give them good press and most professional actors use good press as their primary food source

That's a really good point, and I agree.

Robbie was all-in on using the criticism levied at her character in Suicide Squad to springboard a reinterpretation of the character (or what she perceived to be a springboard for her career) by feeding into their delusions.

It was pretty obvious to everyone that a large part of the appeal of Harley in the first Suicide Squad was Margot Robbie's sex appeal; in one interview (before the movie came out) she even acknowledged how she wanted to take on that challenge even though she's nothing like that character in real life, and even worked with David Ayer to dress the way she did because she felt it matched the depiction of the character in the film (and it did).

But as you pointed out, she pivoted with a 180 after the complaints, and the films have just nose-dived the character's portrayal since then.

I see Margot Robbie as one of the main roadblocks to a truly satisfying interpretation of the character on film

Yup, at this point she's using the character/fame to keep wading through the Hollywood molasses while the character and portrayals suffer greatly for it.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

Agreed!

[–] JakeSWITCH (504) 3 years ago

One film failed critically but made a massive amount of money (and won an Academy Award), and the two other films succeeded critically but failed financially due to COVID.

I’m not a huge fan of the character and I think she’s out-of-place on the Suicide Squad (Harley Quinn is too popular to be killed off), but Margot Robbie is likable and has made the role her own.

--------------------------------------------
You can read all of my latest film reviews here: https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/about/Jake

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

You're out of your mind. She's ridiculously talented and her versatility alone is a testament of that. Harley Quinn is not comparable to Iron Man. One's a top 2 character in his universe, Harley is SEVERAL notches below that. it's like comparing Superman to Black Widow. But her actual talent? Very impressive. The girl is a chameleon. Mediocrity, LOL. Stop.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

Meh. I don't see that talent at all. And chameleon my ass. Kate Winslet, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett. THOSE are chameleons

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

She played Queen Fucking Elizabeth, Harley, Tonya Harding, a bitch rich housewife...

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

Playing different roles does not make you a chameleon, tsk tsk

Keanu Reeves has played a cop, an alien, a scientist, a dumbass (Bill and Ted), a demonslayer, an assassin, a lawyer, and a guy with a supposedly-British accent (Dracula)

Yet no one who really knows about actors would ever describe Keanu Reeves as a "chameleon". Keanu Reeves is always Keanu Reeves, whether he's good or bad. In fact, by your standards almost every single major movie star who has not been typecast to hell could be described as a chameleon

I don't think you know what it means when actors are described as "chameleons". Classic examples are guys like Gary Oldman or Daniel Day-Lewis who dramatically change their appearances, voices, and mannerisms

Charlize Theron in Monster went total fucking chameleon-mode. I'm not saying that Robbie has to gain a bunch of weight and put on prosthetics and shit, but she has never embodied a character in the way that other, far greater actors have

[–] TheArgentinian (7109) 3 years ago

Nonsense. She's the most entertaining part of the DC movies.
Like Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, it's impossible to imagine anyone doing a better job.

You must have a problem with women.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

Yeah...if only Harley Quinn could be played by a man

[–] Levtones (594) 3 years ago

Seann William Scott > Ryan Reynolds

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

"You must have a problem with women. "

Yes, he hates all women because he doesn't like a performance by 1. You are a fucking clown.

[–] TheArgentinian (7109) 3 years ago

It fits the profile.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

You never ever stray from your profile. In fact you radiate it loudly every time you post.

Hard to recall any civil posts from you.

[–] TheArgentinian (7109) 3 years ago

Another one that fits the profile 👆

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

I literally complimented the actress who played Ratcatcher 2 in my OP. Did you even read it all? In fact, I'll state that she was, IMO, the best performer in the entire film.
I also complimented Samara Weaving and expressed enthusiasm at the idea of her replacing Robbie

I compared Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone to Margot Robbie favorably. In other comments in this thread I complimented great female actors like Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, and Charlize Theron

Is this all not enough to prove that I don't hate cunts?

[–] TheArgentinian (7109) 3 years ago

No. In fact, you just confirmed my incel profile.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 3 years ago

Tell us more about Joey King's "dick sucking lips" you little fucking creep

[–] TheArgentinian (7109) 3 years ago

☑ Stalking.
Another one.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 3 years ago

I loved her in the first Suicide Squad. Not a great movie by any means but she definitely was a standout.

I hated Birds of Prey and also didn't care for her much in The Suicide Squad. I think the problem is, in the first Suicide Squad, she was portrayed as a lot smarter and calculating, with much more clever lines.

And then, as Grace Randolph says in her review (yes I watch some of her comic book movie reviews from time to time), they turned her into a ditzy Marilyn Monroe type for two movies in a row. Grace recommends the Harley Quinn cartoon and says it gets the character of Harley right. She is not supposed to be a ditzy airhead. Sure, you can try it, but it will get tiresome very fast. Might explain why I found her very uninteresting in The Suicide Squad, where she also seemed way too invincible and cartoony.

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

Grace recommends the Harley Quinn cartoon and says it gets the character of Harley right.

No, it really doesn't, unless again you like lesbian fanfic like that awful Netflix She-Ra show.

. She is not supposed to be a ditzy airhead.

Actually, she is.

Sure, you can try it, but it will get tiresome very fast.

That's why she was always a supporting character, much like Michael Hurst's amazing portrayal of Iolaus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. He's fun to watch and a great addition to the show, but he was never main-character material, same with Harley.

In the original Batman: The Animated Series, where she was introduced, she was a psychologically damaged psychopath with an emotional disorder and codependency issues. She's not someone you anchor an entire movie around, but she was a delight when paired up with the Joker.

David Ayer's depiction of the character was definitely more layered, but she was still a supporting character, and even then there wasn't enough there to base an entire movie around. Her being a man-crazy airhead was always her character traits, which I think they actually captured more honestly in relation to what her character always was in Gunn's The Suicide Squad.

The thing is, she never was nor should have been elevated to super-heroine status, or lead character, because she's not that, and never was. She's not even lead-villain material, which is why she was always depicted originally in The Animated Series and comics as a side-character who had stories anchored around more important characters whenever she was given the spotlight.

Essentially, DC is trying to drastically alter her character to make it more mainstream but she was never designed for that and it's glaringly obvious in this film because everyone else has to be dumbed down to elevate her importance in the film.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

No, she is not supposed to be a ditzy airhead. you are misinterpreting erratic as ditzy. she pulls off clever capers in BtAS and is very much like the Joker himself. Goofy, erratic, funny, but not ditzy.

She is different now. Mostly more boring and less clever. The scene of her standing in the middle of a room shooting in every direction in typical nu-toughgirl fashion sums up what's wrong with the changes.

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

No, she is not supposed to be a ditzy airhead. you are misinterpreting erratic as ditzy. she pulls off clever capers in BtAS and is very much like the Joker himself. Goofy, erratic, funny, but not ditzy.

That's a bit of a tautology, given that "ditzy" is defined by being: eccentrically silly, giddy, or inane

Harley is definitely eccentrically silly and giddy (even by your own standards of calling her erratic and goofy, which are synonymous with being eccentric and silly), but you're also right that she could be clever, too.

Ditzy and clever are not mutually exclusive traits. Legally Blonde is a good example of a character who was ditzy but also clever.

She is different now. Mostly more boring and less clever.

Yeah, she's the typical empowered feminist archetype. Her shooting the faux-President and going in on that spiel about toxic relationships was such a feminist "You go, girl!" or "slay queen!" moment. That whole sequence's tone was out of place with the rest of the movie, but I know why they did it, so they can set the seeds for her eventual relationship with Poison Ivy.

The scene of her standing in the middle of a room shooting in every direction in typical nu-toughgirl fashion sums up what's wrong with the changes.

Yeah, that's because feminist now see her as an icon, so they had to tone down her codependent psychopathy and make her more of a colorful, fun, anti-villain that the loonies on Twitter can root for.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

Well far be it from me to argue with the dictionary. I always thought that ditzy meant stupid/airhead.

Standing still, with no cover, and proudly pointing your gun and shooting every assailant that comes your way is not good action. It shows up quite a bit in the last 10 years though. It has always been embarrassing.

[–] johnmiller (3940) 3 years ago

We have very little choice today, given the low level of talent we have to choose from these days.

[–] LetoAtreides (560) 3 years ago

The real question should be, why do we have 3 movies starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn without the Joker. Quinn is all about her twisted relationship with the Joker and all we ever got was a tiny flashback in the first Suicide Squad.

[–] DoctorThirteen (14202) 3 years ago

My guess is it's because Harley's relationship with the Joker is portrayed in the comics as toxic and abusive, and that in the current climate film-makers have cold feet about showing that. Which is a shame. A live-action adaptation of the Timm/Dini story Mad Love (a fantastic story that says so much about abusive relationships, and was actually adapted into an episode of Batman: The Animated Series) could really be something. But they'd never do it without changing it and giving it a 'Go, girl!' ending, which would completely remove the point and the message.

[–] MuffCabbage (450) 3 years ago

Harley just can't carry a movie